Glossary

1) Lift

The maximum vertical distance through which the load hook can travel. The total allowable hook movement between its upper limit of travel and its lower limit of travel.
The term "Lift" or "Lifts" may also refer to lift tables, scissor lifts and personnel lifts.
Lift tables are ergonomic devices utilized to raise, lower or tilt work loads such as pallets and containers. Lift tables are a scissors lift device used to raise, lower, stack, convey and/or transfer material between two or more elevations and not limited to landings. Such movement enables the worker to access the load at an acceptable level so as to not exert undue physical strain while working with the item(s).
A scissors lift is a raising/lowering device that is supported or stabilized by one or more pantograph leg sections.
Likewise, personnel lifts are used to raise and lower humans to appropriate working heights so that they may work at a safe reaching level and will have benefit of increased movement not afforded by a conventional ladder.

2) Lift cart

A hand cart with a scissor or mast supported lifting platform.

3) Structural lifter

A lifter which consists of one or more rigid parts for attaching the load to the lifting device.

4) Lifting capacity

5) Supporting lifter

A lifter that carries the load on rigid projections or weight bearing surfaces.

6) Vacuum lifter

A lifting device utilizing the creation of vacuum to attach itself to an object via the use of an electric-powered extraction pump and sealed pads.
Generally suspended from a hoist/crane, manipulator, balancer, or positioner. Often attaches to the lifting mechanism by means of a bail and hook arrangement or is an integral part of the positioning and lifting mechanism.

7) Lift tables

A scissors lift device used to raise, lower, stack, convey and/or transfer material between two or more elevations and not limited to landing.

8) Lifting beam

A solid or fabricated metal or wooden beam, suspended from a hoist/crane or from forks of a forklift, designed to provide multiple lifting points. The lifting beam enables the user to attach the load at more than one point therein securing and controlling the load's movement.

9) Sheet lifter

Usually a below-the-hook (hoist or balancer) material handling device that utilizes two "claws" that grab a piece or pieces of sheet metal or wood. These claws are "squeezed" by means of a ratchet and turning wheel and wrap around the sides of the sheet. A lip on the lower portion of the claws prevents the sheet from falling out of the lifter. The sheet lifter is attached to the lifting device by means of a bail at the top of the device.

10) Mechanical lifter

A lifter composed of two or more rigid parts that move with respect to each other to attach the load to the hoisting device.
All movements of this grab as it attaches to the load are manually actuated.

11) Dock lift

A lift whose travel is generally 5 feet (1524 mm) or less and which is primarily used to load/unload material from trucks and transfer it to dock or ground elevation.

12) Pallet lifter

A below-the-hook lifting device that utilizes forks in its design and serves to take the role of forklift forks while utilizing the capabilities of a crane and/or hoist. Generally, counterweighted at its top and attached via a bail and hook arrangement.

13) Scissors lift

A raising/lowering device that is supported or stabilized by one or more pantograph leg section.

14) Vertical lift module

A Vertical Lift Module, or VLM is a storage system that consists of two parallel columns each of which is divided into fixed shelf locations that can hold a single storage module such as a tray or tote. The shelving locations are single deep. A tray or tote is inserted, extracted and transported between storage levels and picking locations via an elevator-like device with an automatic shuttle that travels up and down within the space between the storage columns. See also Carousels and/or AS/RS .

15) Industrial scissor lift

A raising/lowering device that is supported or stabilized by one or more pantograph leg sections.